Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington SB6235: Athletics/private equity
Status: In committee, January 29, 2026
Prohibiting certain private equity and sovereign wealth fund agreements in intercollegiate athletics.
What the bill says
An act Relating to prohibiting certain private equity and sovereign wealth fund agreements in intercollegiate athletics; amending RCW 28B.10.703; and creating new sections. NEW SECTION.
From the introduced text:
AN ACT Relating to prohibiting certain private equity and sovereign wealth fund agreements in intercollegiate athletics; amending RCW 28B.10.703; and creating new sections. NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that intercollegiate athletics are conducted under the auspices of nonprofit institutions of higher education and, when properly governed, promote student development, campus life, community identity, and broad public engagement in education, benefits that constitute a public good aligned with the educational missions those institutions are chartered to serve. (2) The legislature further finds that intercollegiate athletics generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue annually through national media contracts, sponsorships, and ticket sales within our state, creating a significant impact on our commerce. (3) Public institutions of higher education are financed and supported by taxpayers through direct appropriations, tax-exempt status, subsidized federal student aid, state grant funds, and tax-advantaged debt, and therefore have a heightened obligation to ensure that institutional assets, including intercollegiate athletics programs and facilities, are managed for public benefit and student welfare rather than private enrichment. (4) The legislature therefore acknowledges that these agreements that convey ownership, revenue-sharing, control rights, or security interests in intercollegiate athletics to private equity, hedge funds, or similar vehicles are inherently conflicted, create pressure to maximize short-term cash flows at the expense of educational and Title IX obligations, and risk extracting …
Sponsors
- Jeff Holy (R) · primary sponsor
- Matt Boehnke (R)
- Perry Dozier (R)
- Wilson, Jeff (R, 19)
- Marcus Riccelli (D)
- James McCune (R)
- Judith Warnick (R)
- Robert Hasegawa (D)
- T'wina Nobles (D)
Latest actions
- : Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 PM.
- : Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 10:30 AM.
- : First reading, referred to Higher Education & Workforce Development.
Subjects: COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
Common questions
- What is SB6235?
- SB6235 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): Athletics/private equity.
- What does SB6235 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to prohibiting certain private equity and sovereign wealth fund agreements in intercollegiate athletics; amending RCW 28B.10.703; and creating new sections. NEW SECTION.
- What is the status of SB6235?
- In committee as of January 29, 2026. Latest action: Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development at 1:30 PM. (January 29, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB6235?
- Jeff Holy (R), with 8 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB6235?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6235&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.